ESPN analysts break down Utah's 'important' game against Cal


12 photos
Save Story

Show 1 more video

Leer en español

Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SALT LAKE CITY — ESPN's "College GameDay" is in town, and the University of Utah campus is all a stir as the nation prepares to tune into Salt Lake City for the premier college football showcase of the week.

No. 5 Utah has been all the talk nationally since beating Oregon 62-20, and the Utes are looking to build on that momentum in their quest for a Pac-12 Championship and eventual College Football Playoff opportunity.

While the game could be another step in the right direction for Utah to prove themselves with the national spotlight on them, "College GameDay" host Rece Davis said Utah doesn't need to worry about others taking them serious.

"They don't have to worry about all that. They don't have to worry about, years gone by where Urban (Meyer) was here or the great team they had in 2008, they don't have to worry about people trying to accept them," Davis said. "They're in the Pac-12. Just win your games; that's all you really have to do. I'm not saying that necessarily guarantees you a spot, a lot will depend on their record, but it definitely put them in better stead otherwise.

"You don't have to prove that your schedule was the same as somebody else's, you don't have to prove that you had the same test. You do, because you're in the Pac-12. It's another step toward winning a conference championship," he added. "This game is important, but I don't think it's a landmark game where people are going to flip the switch and say, 'OK, that's a playoff team,' because they have a ton left to navigate, win or lose. Everybody else has lost in the division, so if Utah loses it won't be over. It's important, it's a big deal, but it's not a be-all (and) end-all, not at this point in the season, not in this league."

Saturday's matchup features one of the best college quarterbacks in Cal's Jared Goff, who is seen as one of the top prospects in next year's NFL draft. His ability to make plays with his arm despite the opposing teams keying in on the team's pass-heavy offense has not slowed him down, even against traditionally defensive-minded teams.

"Of course Jared wants to have some run threat because it opens up your play-action and it kind of relaxes those safeties a little bit back there because they've got to come down and contribute," ESPN quarterback analyst George Whitfield said. "But I think this is one of the rare offenses and one of those rare kids. He can succeed even when they're going to be throwing it all day and they can still have success."

ESPN commentators, Samantha Ponder, Desmond Howard and David Pollack, record a show for College GameDay at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Friday, Oct. 9, 2015. Utah and California, the final two undefeated teams in the Pac-12, square off tomorrow at Rice-Eccles Stadium at 8 p.m. (Photo: Laura Seitz/Deseret News)
ESPN commentators, Samantha Ponder, Desmond Howard and David Pollack, record a show for College GameDay at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Friday, Oct. 9, 2015. Utah and California, the final two undefeated teams in the Pac-12, square off tomorrow at Rice-Eccles Stadium at 8 p.m. (Photo: Laura Seitz/Deseret News)

But Whitfield said Utah's Travis Wilson, too, has NFL potential and is playing "high-level" football and deserves to have a lot of attention surrounding him as well.

"Travis is definitely in the mix there, too, in terms of the NFL," Whitfield said. "He's dictating terms, he's throwing with a lot of anticipation. ... He's got a big frame, he's physical — you know how tough he is. You can't underestimate how much teams want a tough quarterback.

"Toughness doesn't mean flexing or running a man over, it just means you got hit by a bus, you found your way onto your feet and you're right back in the huddle and you're right back pressing the action again," Whitfield added. "He certainly has that. I think he has everything you want in a quarterback at both levels."

Whitfield said he's been impressed with the maturity of Wilson this year and his ability to "manipulate" opposing defenses. After watching film, Whitfield said Wilson does a great job of leading a corner along with his eyes, but flipping the script to make a big play with one of his receivers.

"Him and coach Roderick have seemed to really hit on a nice stride together. He's doing some things that are advanced — high-level things where he is manipulating defenders as opposed to reading them," Whitfield said. "He's dictating the terms now, and that's another big step, that's a huge step; that's what scouts starts to look for as an NFL quarterback, coaches look for.

"He's able to now dictate terms — that is an advanced level of play," he added. "If he can do it against Oregon, it's in his DNA going forward. This is going to be a juggernaut for the duration."

ESPN's "College GameDay" will begin Saturday at 7 a.m. for its 3-hour broadcast. Fans of all teams are encouraged to attend anytime during the broadcast. Later that night, at 8 p.m., No. 5 Utah and No. 23 Cal are set to kickoff in a Pac-12 showdown on ESPN, pitting the current South division leader against the current North division leader as the only remaining undefeated teams in the Pac-12.

Photos

Most recent Sports stories

Related topics

SportsUtah Utes
Josh Furlong

    ARE YOU GAME?

    From first downs to buzzer beaters, get KSL.com’s top sports stories delivered to your inbox weekly.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast